Shoe cases

ABSTRACT

Shoe cases are provided. In one aspect, a shoe case includes a first housing member, a second housing member, and a hinge positioned between the first housing member and the second housing member. The first housing member and the second housing member together define a shoe case cavity and the hinge is adapted to allow movement of the first housing member and the second housing member relative to each other between a closed position and an opened position.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/546,236, filed Oct. 12, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to footwear accessories and, more particularly, to cases for containing and protecting a shoe when not in use.

BACKGROUND

Many styles of shoes exist and such shoes can range from affordable to expensive. When traveling, shoes may be placed inside luggage, thereby exposing the shoe to other contents of the luggage which may result in damage of the shoes. Shoes may be damaged in a variety of manners such as, for example, compression or squishing, scratching, broken hardware, broken heels or straps, among other types of damage. Additionally, other contents of the luggage may be exposed to bottoms of the shoes which are commonly dirty due to their exposure to the ground.

Soft material bags with drawstring closures are provided with some shoes and both shoes may be placed in the same bag for transport. The soft material bags may inhibit exposure of the luggage contents to dirt accumulated on the bottom of shoes. However, such soft material bags do not protect against many types of damage that may occur when shoes are placed in luggage. For example, a soft material bag will not protect the shoes against compression or squishing, will not prevent scratching of the shoes through the soft material bag, will not protect against impacts that may damage hardware or parts of the shoes, and will not protect against the shoes rubbing, impacting, and scratching each other in the same bag.

SUMMARY

The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims.

In one example, a shoe case is provided

In another example, a shoe case for containing one or more shoes is provided.

In a further example, a shoe case for containing one or more shoes is provided and includes a first housing member, a second housing member, and a hinge between the first and second housing members to allow the first and second housing members to rotate relative to each other between a closed position and an opened position. The shoe case defines a cavity in which a shoe may be contained.

In yet another example, a shoe case is provided and includes a carrying member for transporting the shoe case.

In yet a further example, a shoe case is provided and includes a securement member within the case engageable with a shoe to secure the shoe within the case.

In still another example, a shoe case is provided and includes a soft material on an interior surface of the case engageable by a shoe. The soft material is not adapted to scratch or otherwise damage the shoe. Some of the materials that may be such a soft material include, but are not limited to, felt, velvet, suede, etc.

In still a further example, a pair of shoe cases is provided and the pair of cases may be removably coupled together with a coupling member. The coupling member may be magnets, hook-and-loop type fasteners, or other types of coupling members.

In another example, a shoe case is provided and includes a first housing member and a second housing member. The first housing member and the second housing member together define a shoe case cavity. The shoe case also including a hinge positioned between the first housing member and the second housing member. The hinge is adapted to allow movement of the first housing member and the second housing member relative to each other between a closed position and an opened position.

In a further example, a one-piece unitarily formed shoe case adapted to support a shoe therein is provided. The shoe case includes a first housing member defining a first housing cavity, a second housing member defining a second housing cavity, a hinge positioned between the first housing member and the second housing member and adapted to facilitate movement of the first and second housing members relative to each other, and a coupling member adapted to selectively couple the first and second housing members together. The first housing member and the second housing member are movable between a closed position, in which the coupling member couples the first and second housing members together to form a shoe case cavity therein from the first and second housing cavities, and an open position, in which the coupling member does not couple the first and second housing members together and the first and second housing members are moved away from each other about the hinge to expose the first and second housing cavities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of an exemplary case for containing a shoe, the case is illustrated in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a bottom rear perspective view of the case shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the case shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the case shown in FIG. 1, the case is illustrated in an opened position and includes an exemplary connection member;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the case shown in FIG. 1, the case is illustrated in an opened position and includes another exemplary connection member;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the case shown in FIG. 1, the case is illustrated in an opened position and includes an exemplary securement member for securing a shoe in place within the case;

FIG. 7 is a left side view of the case shown in FIG. 1, the case includes an exemplary carrying member for carrying the case;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a pair of cases similar to the case shown in FIG. 1, each case includes an exemplary coupling member engageable with one another for coupling the pair of cases together;

FIG. 9 is a left side view of another exemplary case for containing a shoe, the case is illustrated in a closed position;

FIG. 10 is a left side view of a further exemplary case for containing a shoe, the case is illustrated in a closed position;

FIG. 11 is a left side view of still another exemplary case for containing a shoe, the case is illustrated in a closed position;

FIG. 12 is top front perspective view of still a further exemplary case for containing a shoe, the case is illustrated in the closed position;

FIG. 13 is a bottom rear perspective view of the case shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a left side view of the case shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a top view of the case shown in FIG. 12, the case is illustrated in an open position and an exemplary shoe is shown in phantom; and

FIG. 16 is an elevational view of the case shown in FIG. 12, the case is illustrated in an open position.

Before any independent features and embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, an exemplary case 20 is illustrated for containing and protecting a shoe 24 (see dashed lines in FIG. 4). In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the shoe case 20 is adapted to support a single shoe 24 (see FIG. 4). In other exemplary embodiments, the shoe case 20 may be adapted to support two or more shoes.

Returning to the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the case 20 includes a housing 28 made of a hard material such as, for example, plastic, polypropylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or any other appropriate material. The housing 28 includes a first member 32 and a second member 36 movable relative to each other about a hinge 40. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the housing 28 is unitarily formed as one-piece and the hinge 40 is a living hinge 40 formed unitarily as one-piece with both the first and second members 32, 36. The first and second members 32, 36 may rotate toward and away from each other about the living hinge 40. In other exemplary embodiments, the first member 32, the second member 36, and the hinge 40 may all be formed separately from each other and the hinge 40 may be coupled to both the first and second members 32, 36, which results in the first and second members 32, 36 being adapted to rotate toward and away from each other about the hinge 40. In these other exemplary embodiments, the hinge 40 may be made out of the same material as the first and second members 32, 36 or may be made out of a different material than the first and second members 32, 36. In addition, the hinge 40 in these other exemplary embodiments may be a wide variety of different types of hinges and all of such types of hinges are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In some exemplary embodiments, an exterior of the housing may be at least partially covered by a fabric, paint, or other material. Such fabric, paint, etc. may be for decorative purposes and may take any shape, form, etc. and all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In other exemplary embodiments, trinkets, charms, or other devices may be connected to an exterior of the housing or to an interior of the housing, and all of such devices and connection possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The first and second members 32, 36 of the housing 28 are movable relative to each other between a closed position (see FIGS. 1-3) and an opened position (see FIG. 4). The first member 32 defines a first member cavity 44 and the second member 36 defines a second member cavity 48. When the first and second members 32, 36 of the housing 28 are in the closed position, the first and second members 32, 36 and the first and second cavities 44, 48 together form a case cavity. The case 20 includes a heel portion 52 for receiving a heel of a shoe 24, a sole portion 56 for receiving a sole of a shoe 24, a toe portion 60 for receiving a toe of a shoe 24, and an upper portion 64 for receiving an upper portion of a shoe 24.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, an interior surface of the housing 28 is covered by a covering member 68. The covering member 68 may be comprised of a soft material such as, for example, felt, velvet, or any other relatively soft material that will not scratch or otherwise damage a shoe 24. The soft material may be laid against and coupled to the interior surface of the housing 28. The covering member 68 may be coupled to the interior surface of the housing 28 in a variety of manners such as, for example, adhesion, fastening, or any other type of coupling. In other exemplary embodiments, the covering member 68 may be a molded object such as, for example, a molded form having a recess defined therein in a similar shape to a shoe silhouette. The molded form may be placed in the cavity of the housing 28 and coupled to the housing 28 in a variety of manners such as, for example, adhesion, fastening, or any other type of coupling.

With particular reference to FIG. 4, the case 20 is illustrated in an opened position. The case 20 includes a coupling member 72 for coupling the first and second members 32, 36 of the housing 28 together and releasably retaining the case 20 in the closed position. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the coupling member 72 is comprised of a magnet 72A and a magnetically responsive member 72B made of a material that is responsive to the magnet 72A. Exemplary materials of the magnetically responsive member 72B include, but are not limited to, metal, other ferric material, a second magnet having opposite polarity to magnet 72A to facilitate magnetic attraction between the two magnets 72A, 72B, or any other material responsive to magnet 72A. The magnet 72A magnetically engages the member 72B when the case 20 is in the closed position and is sufficiently strong to retain the case 20 in the closed position as desired. The magnet 72A may be a variety of strengths and all of such possible strengths are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. To move the case 20 to the opened position, a user grasps the first and second members 32, 36 of the housing 28 and applies opposing forces to the first and second members 32, 36 to overcome the magnet attraction force between the magnet 72A and the magnetically responsive member 72B. When the opposing forces exceed the magnet attraction force, the first and second members 32, 36 disconnect at edges opposite the hinge 40 and may be moved away from each other about the hinge 40 to the opened position. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the coupling member 72 is comprised of one magnet 72A and one magnetically responsive member 72B. The magnet 72A and the magnetically responsive member 72B may be coupled to either of the first member 32 or the second member 36.

It should be understood that the coupling member 72 may be comprised of any number of magnets 72A and a complementary number of magnetically responsive members 72B. Such magnets 72A and members 72B may be coupled to the first and second members 32, 36 in any combination, and all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should also be understood that the magnetically responsive member 72B may be a magnet 72A itself adapted to attract to the other magnet 72A on the other housing member.

Referring now to FIG. 5, another exemplary embodiment of a coupling member 72′ is illustrated. In this illustrated exemplary embodiment, the coupling member 72′ includes a plurality of projections or dowels 72A′ and a complementary number of apertures 72B′ for receiving the dowels 72A′. The dowels 72A′ and apertures 72B′ are configured to frictionally engage each other when the dowels 72A′ are positioned in the apertures 72B′. The dowels 72A′ insert into the apertures 72B′ when the first and second members 32, 36 are moved together into the closed position of the case 20. To move the case 20 to the opened position, a user grasps the first and second members 32, 36 of the housing 28 and applies opposing forces to the first and second members 32, 36 to overcome a friction force between the dowels 72A′ and the apertures 72B′. When the opposing forces exceed the friction force, the first and second members 32, 36 disconnect at edges opposite the hinge 40 and may be moved away from each other about the hinge 40 to the opened position. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the coupling member 72′ is comprised of three dowels 72A′ and three apertures 72B′. It should be understood that the coupling member 72′ may be comprised of any number of dowels 72A′ (including one) and a complementary number of apertures 72B′, and all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should also be understood that the dowels 72A′ and apertures 72B′ may be positioned on either of the first member 32 or the second member 36 and be within the intended spirit and scope of the present invention.

In other exemplary embodiments, the coupling member may be comprised of a latch mechanism coupled to an exterior of the case 20. In such embodiments, the latch mechanism is releasably connectable to selectively retain the case 20 in the closed position or allow the case 20 to move to the opened position.

It should be understood that the case 20 may include any type of coupling member to selectively retain the case 20 in the closed position and allow movement of the case 20 to the opened position, and all of such possible coupling members are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 6, the case 20 includes an exemplary embodiment of a securement member 76 for securing a shoe 24 within the case 20. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the securement member 76 is comprised of a strap 76A coupled to the first member 32 with one end 76B of the strap 76A permanently connected to the first member 32 near a non-hinge edge of the first member 32 and a second end 76C of the strap 76A releasably connectable to the first member 32 near a hinge edge of the first member 32. The first end 76B may be permanently connected to the first member 32 in a variety of manners including, but not limited to, stitching, adhering, melting, bonding, etc. The second end 76C of the strap 76A may be releasably connected to the first member 32 in a variety of manners. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the second end 76C of the strap 76A is releasably connected to the first member 32 with a hook and loop type fastener 76D. In other exemplary embodiments, the second end 76C of the strap 76A may be releasably connected to the first member 32 with a buckle. In further exemplary embodiments, the second end 76C of the strap 76A may be releasably connected to the first member 32 with a tacky engagement. In yet other exemplary embodiments, the second end 76C of the strap 76A may be releasably connected to the first member 32 by tying it to another element such as a loop or a hook.

It should be understood that the second end 76C of the strap 76A may be releasably connected to the case 20 in any manner and all of such manners are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should also be understood that the strap 76A may be connected to the second member 36 rather than the first member 32. It should further be understood that the strap 76A may be releasably connected on either end 76B, 76C of the strap 76A and permanently connected on the other of the ends 76C, 76B of the strap 76A. Further yet, it should be understood that both ends 76B, 76C of the strap 76A may be releasably connected to the first member in any of the manners described above or any other possible manners. Still further, it should be understood that both ends 76B, 76C of the strap 76A may be permanently connected to the first member and the strap 76A may be made out of elastic material, thereby allowing stretching of the strap 76A and movement of a shoe underneath and out from underneath the elastic strap 76A when the strap 76A is stretched. Yet further, it should be understood that the strap 76A may be made of any elastic material, any non-elastic material, or any combination of elastic and non-elastic materials. It should also be understood that the securement member 76 may take any form and function in any manner in order to secure a shoe 24 to the case 20.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the case 20 includes an exemplary carrying member 84 that may be grasped by a user for transporting the case 20. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the carrying member 84 is comprised of a strap 84 coupled to a rear surface of the shoe case 20. In other exemplary embodiments, the strap 84 may be coupled to another portion of the shoe case 20 such as, for example, a top, a bottom, a front, or one of the sides of the case 20. In further exemplary embodiments, the carrying member 84 may be unitarily formed as one-piece with the case 20 and may be located anywhere on the case 20.

With reference to FIG. 8, a pair of cases 20 are illustrated and the cases 20 are releasably connected together with coupling members 88. Each case 20 may be adapted to contain one shoe 24, thereby the pair of cases 20 together are adapted to contain a pair of shoes 24. It may be desirable to keep a pair of shoes 24 together and the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the cases 20 achieves this. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the coupling members 88 are comprised of two magnets 88A and two magnetically responsive members 88B adapted to be attracted to the magnets 88A. The two magnets 88A and two members 88B may be oriented in the two cases 20 in a variety of manners as long as one magnet 88A in one case 20 is opposite one of the members 88B in the other case 20. For example, a first magnet 88A may be positioned in a heel portion 52 of a first case 20, a first member 88B may be positioned in a heel portion 52 of the second case 20, a second magnet 88A may be positioned in a sole portion 56 of the second case 20, and a second member 88B may be positioned in a sole portion 56 of the first case 20. The aligned magnets 88A and members 88B will magnetically and releasably secure the first and second cases 20 together. Alternatively, for example, both magnets 88A may be in one of the cases 20 and both of the magnetic responsive members 88B may be in the other one of the cases 20. In other exemplary embodiments, all of the coupling members 88 may be magnets 88A adapted to attract to each other to magnetically and releasably secure the first and second cases 20 together.

It should be understood that the coupling members 88 may be any type of coupling member for securing the first and second cases 20 together and all of such possible coupling members are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should also be understood that the coupling members 88 may be coupled to any portion of the first and second cases 20 and still couple the two cases 20 together. It should further be understood that the first and second cases 20 may include any number of coupling members 88 for releasably securing the first and second cases 20 together.

Referring now to FIG. 9, another exemplary case 20′ is illustrated for containing and protecting a shoe. The case 20′ may include any of the components, features, and functionality of the cases 20 described above in connection with FIGS. 1-8. The case 20′ illustrated in FIG. 9 includes a different shape than the cases 20 illustrated above in FIGS. 1-8. For example, the case 20′ includes a different shaped toe portion 60′. This difference in shape of the toe portion 60′ allows the case 20′ to contain different styles and shapes of shoes than the cases illustrated in FIGS. 1-8.

With reference to FIG. 10, a further exemplary case 20″ is illustrated for containing and protecting a shoe. The case 20″ may include any of the components, features, and functionality of the cases 20, 20′ described above in connection with FIGS. 1-9. The case 20″ illustrated in FIG. 10 includes a different shape than the cases 20, 20′ illustrated above in FIGS. 1-9. For example, the case 20″ includes a different shaped toe portion 60″. This difference in shape of the toe portion 60″ allows the case 20″ to contain different styles and shapes of shoes than the cases illustrated in FIGS. 1-9.

Referring now to FIG. 11, yet another exemplary case 20′″ is illustrated for containing and protecting a shoe. The case 20′″ may include any of the components, features, and functionality of the cases 20, 20′, 20″ described above in connection with FIGS. 1-10. The case 20′″ illustrated in FIG. 11 includes a different shape than the cases 20, 20′, 20″ illustrated above in FIGS. 1-10. For example, the case 20′″ includes a different shaped toe portion 60″. This difference in shape of the toe portion 60′″ allows the case 20′″ to contain different styles and shapes of shoes than the cases illustrated in FIGS. 1-10.

Referring now to FIGS. 12-16, yet another exemplary case 20″″ is illustrated for containing and protecting a shoe 24″″. The case 20″″ may include any of the components, features, and functionality of the cases 20, 20′, 20″, 20′″ described above in connection with FIGS. 1-11. The case 20″″ illustrated in FIGS. 12-16 includes a different shape than the cases 20, 20′, 20″, 20′″ illustrated above in FIGS. 1-11. For example, the case 20″″ has continuous surfaces in the first and second housing members 32″″, 36″″, thereby not providing an opening between the heel portion 52″″ and the sole portion 56″″. With this shape, the hinge 40″″ is a single continuous hinge 40″″ from end to end and spans a substantial amount of a bottom surface 92 of the case 20″″. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the hinge 40″″ is similar to the hinges included in the various other cases 20, 20′, 20″, 20′″ disclosed herein. Alternatively, the hinge may have a different configuration. For example, the hinge may be substantially flush with the bottom surface 92 of the case 20″″ and does not substantially extend beyond the bottom surface 92 when the case 20″″ is in the closed position. The hinge may still either be unitarily formed as one-piece with the first and second housing members 32″″, 36″″ (as illustrated in FIGS. 12-16), or the hinge may be formed separately from and coupled to the first and second housing members.

With continued reference to FIGS. 12-16, the case 20″″ includes a coupling member 72″″. The coupling member 72″″ includes a recess 72A″″ defined in the first housing member 32″″ and a projection 72B″″ extending from the second housing member 36″″. The projection 72B″″ is adapted to insert into the recess 72A″″ and a shoulder of the projection 72B″″ is adapted to positively engage behind a shoulder in the recess 72A″″, thereby securing the first and second housing members 32″″, 36″″ in the closed position. Additionally, the first housing member 32″″ includes a first lip 96 and the second housing member 36″″ includes a second lip 100. The projection 72B″″ extends outward from an exterior surface of the second lip 100 and the recess 72A″″ is defined in an interior surface of the first lip 96. When the first and second housing members 32″″, 36″″ move toward the closed position, the second lip 100 nests inside of or is positioned to an interior of the first lip 96, thereby positioning the projection 72B″″ into the recess 72A″″. A sufficient force applied to each of the first and second housing members 32″″, 36″″ in opposing directions is required to move the projection 72B″″ out of the recess 72A″″, and move the first and second housing members 32″″, 36″″ apart into the opened position. It should be understood that the recess 72A″″ may be alternatively defined in the second housing member 36″″ and the projection 72B″″ may alternatively extend from the first housing member 32″″. It should also be understood that while the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the case 20″″ includes a single pair of the recess 72A″″ and projection 72B″″, the case 20″″ is capable of including any number of pairs of recesses 72A″″ and projections 72B″″ and still be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It should be understood that the cases disclosed herein and components thereof may be any size, color, shape, configuration, and may be associated with one another in any manner and all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. The descriptions were selected to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Although particular constructions of the present invention have been shown and described, other alternative constructions and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the intended scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe case comprising: a first housing member; a second housing member, wherein the first housing member and the second housing member together define a shoe case cavity; and a hinge positioned between the first housing member and the second housing member, wherein the hinge is adapted to allow movement of the first housing member and the second housing member relative to each other between a closed position and an opened position.
 2. The shoe case of claim 1, wherein the first housing member includes a bottom surface and the second housing member includes a bottom surface, and wherein the hinge is positioned between the first and second housing members at the bottom surfaces of the first and second members.
 3. The shoe case of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing members together form a sole portion of the shoe case, and wherein the hinge is positioned on the sole portion of the shoe case.
 4. The shoe case of claim 1, further comprising a coupling member adapted to couple the first and second housing members together in the closed position.
 5. The shoe case of claim 4, wherein the coupling member includes a magnet.
 6. The shoe case of claim 4, wherein the coupling member includes a projection on one of the first and second housing members and a recess defined in the other of the first and second housing members, and wherein the projection is positioned in the recess in the closed position and the projection is not positioned in the recess in the opened position.
 7. The shoe case of claim 1, wherein the first housing member, the second housing member, and the hinge are unitarily formed as one-piece.
 8. The shoe case of claim 1, wherein the first housing member and the second housing member are made of plastic.
 9. The shoe case of claim 1, further comprising a carrying member coupled to at least one of the first housing member and the second housing member.
 10. The shoe case of claim 1, further comprising a securement member at least partially positioned within the shoe case cavity and adapted to engage a shoe to secure the shoe to the shoe case.
 11. The shoe case of claim 1, further comprising a covering member positioned within the shoe case cavity and coupled to at least one of the first and second housing members.
 12. The shoe case of claim 11, wherein the covering member is a soft material and is coupled to an interior surface of the first housing member and an interior surface of the second housing member.
 13. The shoe case of claim 11, wherein the covering member is a molded object and is coupled to at least one of an interior surface of the first housing member and an interior surface of the second housing member.
 14. The shoe case of claim 1, further comprising a coupling member adapted to couple the shoe case to a second shoe case.
 15. The shoe case of claim 14, wherein the coupling member is a magnet.
 16. The shoe case of claim 1, wherein the hinge is a living hinge.
 17. A one-piece unitarily formed shoe case adapted to support a shoe therein, the shoe case comprising: a first housing member defining a first housing cavity; a second housing member defining a second housing cavity; a hinge positioned between the first housing member and the second housing member and adapted to facilitate movement of the first and second housing members relative to each other; and a coupling member adapted to selectively couple the first and second housing members together; wherein the first housing member and the second housing member are movable between a closed position, in which the coupling member couples the first and second housing members together to form a shoe case cavity therein from the first and second housing cavities, and an open position, in which the coupling member does not couple the first and second housing members together and the first and second housing members are moved away from each other about the hinge to expose the first and second housing cavities.
 18. The shoe case of claim 17, wherein the shoe case is made of plastic.
 19. The shoe case of claim 17, wherein the coupling member includes a projection extending from one of the first and second housing members and a recess defined in the other one of the first and second housing members, and wherein the projection is positioned in the recess in the closed position and the projection is not positioned in the recess in the opened position.
 20. The shoe case of claim 17, wherein the hinge is a living hinge. 